Four-Run Second Inning Leads Yale Past Butler

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Courtney Blachford's two-run single highlighted a four-run second inning as Yale blanked Butler 4-0 at the Rebel Games. Lauren Huddleston and Megan Enyeart each had two hits, while Rebecca Wojciak pitched a five-hit shutout for the Bulldogs. Yale dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to Cleveland State in its second game of the day. KR Ling allowed only two hits but was the hard-luck losing pitcher.

Against Butler, the Bulldogs did all their scoring in the second. Huddleston led off with a triple. After McKynlee Westman walked, Megan Boon followed with an RBI single. Enyeart then reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, and Blachford delivered a two-run single over the first base bag. Aracelis Torres's sacrifice fly to centerfield capped the rally.

Yale (4-4) had eight hits in the game and had runners on base in every inning.

Butler's best scoring chance came in the second. Bridget Paine led off with a double, and Jen Arringa then walked. Wojciak, though, got Macy McMullen to ground out and Haley Oskins to hit into a double play to end the inning.

After struggling in her first start of the season, Wojciak has not allowed an earned run in her last 11 innings.

Butler (6-6) had five hits in the game but left eight runners on base.

Ling and Cleveland State's Brittany Bate hooked up in a pitching duel in Yale's second game of the day. Ling didn't allow a hit for the first six innings, but the Vikings managed to push across an unearned run in the first inning.

Bate, meanwhile, was the beneficiary of some outstanding defense. In the fourth, Yale had runners on second and third when Westman hit a line drive that appeared to be headed to the left-centerfield gap. Left-fielder Whitney Willard, though, raced to her left to make an outstanding diving catch to thwart the rally.

Bate went the first six innings and allowed only four hits. She was relieved by Amanda Macenko, who got herself into immediate trouble in the seventh. Enyeart led off with a double and Nicole Wolfe drew a walk. Macenko, though, worked out of the jam to record her second save of the season.

Enyeart had two doubles in the game for the Bulldogs. Katie Yanagisawa also had a hit.

The Bulldogs are off Friday before playing Siena and Wagner on Saturday.